During our annual retreat in Raesfeld, we were honoured to welcome Prof. Dr. from Yonggang Yao from the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China. He delivered an inspiring online lecture on heterostructure engineering in high-entropy alloy catalysts. We were very impressed by his approach and the significance of his research for our community. His presentation offered valuable insights into how structural design principles can advance catalyst development. It was a great pleasure to welcome Prof. Yao not only as a speaker at our international workshop earlier this year, but also for this colloquium, where he shared exciting new research results and perspectives.

This year's CRC 1625 retreat took place once again at the beautiful Schloss Raesfeld. For the first time, we adopted the Faraday Discussion format, which gave us more time for in-depth scientific discussion. This new structure encouraged engaging discussions in small groups, from formal sessions to informal chats while hiking through the idyllic Raesfeld forests, and even after dinner during our 'empty poster session'. We collected many fresh ideas and perspectives that will help us to advance our collaborative research. The retreat was scientifically productive and strengthened the sense of community within the CRC.

In recent weeks, CRC 1625 researchers have participated in two significant scientific events. At the 76th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry in Mainz,  we were present with our own exhibition booth. Dr. Ridha Zerdoumi and Prof. Corina Andronescu were among the contributors. Shortly after, our PIs, postdocs, and doctoral students contributed to the Faraday Discussions on High-Entropy Alloy Nanostructures: From Theory to Application in London.

Electrochemical data is complex to interpret. Are you an expert in electrochemistry? Join us in building the Virtual Electrochemist! You will view a cyclic or linear sweep voltammogram and describe it orally, what features you see and why they matter. We’ll convert your descriptions into text and use them to develop a descriptor set for CVs and LSVs. Click on this news and share your name, email, and affiliation to be contacted for future contributions and potential authorship.

We had the pleasure of welcoming Prof. Hannah-Noa Barad at the 5th Colloquium, where she gave an inspiring talk on “Rational Pathways to Sustainable Energy Conversion Materials.” As a leading expert from Bar-Ilan University and co-director of the Israel National Institute of Energy Storage, Prof. Barad shared exceptional insights into multinary materials for clean energy, sustainable fuels, and value-added chemicals. Her work combines high-throughput techniques with machine learning. The lively discussions that followed sparked a new initiative on AI-driven electrochemical data analysis, supported by Profs. Ludwig, Prof. Schuhmann, and Prof. Stricker.

The CRC 1625 organized its 2nd International Workshop: From Disorder to Order in Compositionally Complex Electrocatalyst Surfaces. Despite over 35 °C outside, participants enjoyed lively discussions in pleasantly cool rooms. The hybrid format brought together international researchers on-site and online to explore how structural (dis)order in complex materials impacts electrocatalysis. Topics included high-entropy alloys, oxides, intermetallics, and amorphous systems, with a focus on experimental and theoretical surface analysis. The workshop encouraged lively discussion and global participation, laying the groundwork for future collaborations.

The Research Training Group (RTG) of CRC 1625 is a structured program supporting early-career researchers through interdisciplinary training and collaboration. The first RTG Retreat in Heidelberg provides a unique PI-free space for (post-)doctoral researchers to present their work, discuss challenges, and share expertise. This event fosters collaboration, strengthens the RTG community, and encourages personal and academic development. Through presentations, discussions, and informal activities, participants build valuable connections and strengthen trust, communication, and team spirit, laying the foundation for lasting collaboration within the group.

The 4th Colloquium featured an insightful talk by Prof. Dr. Matthias Arenz of University of Bern, Switzerland - a valued collaboration partner of several PIs. Dr. Arenz presented research on the Electrochemical Synthesis of High Entropy Nanoparticles and Their Applications in Electrocatalysis. 

He showed how application-focused basic research in electrocatalytic energy conversion can more directly translate into devices for the future, highlighting the impact of innovative synthesis methods of High Entropy Nanoparctiles. The talk sparked engaging discussions, reinforcing the importance of electrochemical research.

Looking back on a successful first year, we are excited to continue into the second one, building on the progress we have made. During our second General Meeting, the consortium was updated on the latest research progress within CRC1625, and engaging discussions were held about the next steps needed to achieve our goals. The poster session, in particular, fostered in-depth discussions on various research topics, contributing to a detailed understanding of ongoing projects. With a strong foundation laid last year, we look forward to another year of innovation and deep collaboration.

The RTG’s block courses provide interdisciplinary training by the PIs for doctoral researchers and everyone interested in deepening their understanding of materials science, electrochemistry, and data science. We recently held our first Block Course, with around 50 participants joining both in person and online. It was a great start, covering the topics electrochemistry, thin films, and high-throughput experiments. Special thanks to Wolfgang Schuhmann and Alfred Ludwig for their insightful lectures!

Our 3rd Colloquium marked a great start to 2025 with a thought-provoking lecture by Prof. Horst Hahn on "Structural and Chemical Disorder Towards Advanced Materials." As a Distinguished Materials Visiting Professor at the University of Oklahoma and KIT Distinguished Senior Fellow, Prof. Hahn provided exceptional insights into advanced materials research, highlighting innovative approaches and cross-disciplinary ideas. His extensive experience and forward-thinking perspectives set an inspiring tone for the year ahead.